Image stabilization apparatus for telescopic devices

Abstract

An image stabilization system for telescopic devices uses a method of selecting a suitable, stationary reference image. The user of the instrument views a circular image and a translucent ring concentric to and at an outer edge within the circular image. A translucent circle is superimposed within the width of the concentric ring so as to be able to move along the concentric ring to obtain a reference image. In order to select the reference image, the translucent circle travels, by viewer command, around the concentric ring until a suitable stationary image is observed within the translucent circle. Translation of the reference image within the concentric ring may be reactivated on command as many times as required to get an optimally stationary reference image. Image matching algorithms are then used to determine if the viewing area has moved by keying on and matching the vector movement of the reference image. This image stabilization system is particularly suited to hand-held binoculars or similar equipment. It permits the use of hand-held binoculars at very high magnification.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image stabilization apparatus for telescopic devices to stabilize an entire image occupying a field of view seen through the telescopic devices, comprising: means for selecting a portion of said entire image, said means comprising a translucent image control frame imposed on an outer edge of said entire image; means to automatically move the translucent image control frame around said outer edge; and means to select a stationary reference image which is outlined within the translucent image control frame; and   means for stabilizing said entire image, wherein said means for stabilizing said entire image comprises a miniaturized microcomputer, said microcomputer identifying and locating said reference image as an initial reference image, said microcomputer then searching for and capturing matching reference control frame images and image coordinates of the initial reference image in shifted locations, and realigning said entire image based on shifting the initial reference image in order to redisplay said entire image as a stabilized image at a motioned-compensated location.   
     
     
       2. The image stabilization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for stabilizing said entire image comprises a miniaturized microcomputer and a piezoelectric motion detection system coupled thereto, said microcomputer capturing said selected portion of said entire image as a reference image and continually capturing and comparing motion vector coordinates produced by movement of said viewing device with said reference image in order to reconstruct said entire image at a motion-compensated stabilized location. 
     
     
       3. The image stabilization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said field of view includes an inner frame containing a perimeter region around which said reference control frame travels, said inner frame occupying 20% of said field of view and said reference control frame occupying 2-4% of said inner frame. 
     
     
       4. An image stabilization apparatus for telescopic devices to stabilize an entire image occupying a field of view seen through the telescopic devices, comprising: an optical lens through which an entire image is viewed;   a solid-state image sensor charge transfer device for digitizing said entire image, said charge transfer device being coupled to said optical lens;   a miniaturized microcomputer for selecting a portion of said digitized image, said microcomputer comprising means to generate a translucent image control frame which is imposed on an outer edge of said digitized image; means to automatically move the translucent image control frame around said outer edge; and means to select a stationary reference image which is outlined within the translucent image control frame; and means for stabilizing said entire image based upon relative movement of said stationary reference image, said microcomputer identifying and locating said stationary reference image as an initial reference image, said microcomputer then searching for and capturing matching reference control frame images and image coordinates of the initial reference image in shifted locations, and realigning said entire image based on shifting the initial reference image in order to redisplay said entire image as a stabilized image at a motioned-compensated location, said microcomputer being coupled to said charge transfer device; and   a viewing screen in which said motion-compensated stabilized image is displayed, said viewing screen being coupled to said microcomputer.   
     
     
       5. The image stabilization system according to claim 4, wherein said microcomputer identifies and locates said selected portion of said entire image as an initial reference image, said microcomputer then searching in an optimized image field no greater than 36% of the total image field and capturing matching reference control frame images and image coordinates in shifted locations in order to redisplay said entire image at said motion-compensated stabilized location. 
     
     
       6. The image stabilization system according to claim 4, further comprising a piezoelectric motion detection system coupled to said microcomputer, said microcomputer capturing said selected portion of said entire image as a reference image and continually capturing and comparing motion vector coordinates produced by movement of said viewing device with said reference image in order to reconstruct said entire image at said motion-compensated stabilized location.